Question

According to Contingency Approach, under what conditions does an organization likely to prefer a mechanistic structure, or an organic structure? Please support your answer with a discussion on the features of mechanic and organic organizations.( This Lesson: Principles of Management)

Answer 1

According to the contigency perspective ,stable environment suggests mechanistic structures that emphasize centralization,formalization,standardization and specialization to achieve efficiency and consistency.Whereas an organic organizational structure allows for horizontal communication and is much suitable for creative businesses.This type of organizational structure is decentralized giving employees at all levels a chance in the decision making process.

Mechanic	Organic
Individual specialization:employees work separately and specialize in one task	Joint specialization employees work together and coordinate tasks
Simple intergrating mechanisms	Complex intergrating mechanism
Centralization:decision making kept high as possible	Decentralization:authority to control task is delegated
Standardization:extensive use made of rules and standard operating procedures	Mutual adjustment:unpredictable work process
Much written communication	Much verbal communication
Informal status in organisation based on size of empire	Informal status based on percieved brilliance